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Q&A: Ciante Evans talks defense, UCLA & Bo Pelini

By Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer -
2 years ago

All eyes will be on Nebraska this Saturday, as the Cornhuskers welcome UCLA to Lincoln for the biggest game of the weekend. Huskers fans need no reminder of last year’s meeting vs. the Bruins in Pasadena. UCLA won, 36-30, as the Bruins obliterated the Nebraska defense to the tune of 653 yards. It was a sign of things to come.

The Huskers defense suffered two more horrendous efforts last season, allowing 498 yards in a 63-38 loss at Ohio State and 640 yards and 70 points in a loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.

Nebraska senior cornerback Ciante Evans doesn’t need any reminders. He knows the dirty details. He has had to live with them for almost a year. Evans and his Husker defensive teammates have a chance to avenge last year’s loss and poor defensive effort to UCLA this Saturday in Lincoln.

I talked to the 5-11, 190-pound Evans to get his thoughts on the Nebraska defense and the big upcoming game, among other subjects we discussed.

Q: How often have you thought about the UCLA game?
A: Oh, I mean, I think about all the losses. It was a heart-breaker. Those guys (UCLA) deserved it. They worked hard. They beat us. Hopefully we can come in next Saturday and give great effort and compete with those guys.

Q: Was any one of those 2012 losses—UCLA, Ohio State, Wisconsin—worse the other?
A: Statistically, they were bad, but they all were losses. There were things we needed to fix to get better.

Q: If you win 50-45 vs. UCLA but give up 600 yards, will it be OK?
A: No, it wouldn’t be OK. As a defense, you always want to strive for greatness and that’s what we want to strive for: To be great. We don’t want to settle just for a win. We’ll take the win, but we want to come out and play defense like we did last week.

Q: Will UCLA’s pace put pressure on you?
A: Yes, sometime, because we have to get the call and they already are lining up. It’s a part of college football. It’s starting to be a part of the NFL. It’s something defenses need to adapt to. Our offense does it, so we see a lot of it in practice during the week.

Q; What did last week’s defensive effort vs. Southern Miss mean for Nebraska?
A: It was a start. Guys were worried during Week One, missing assignments and things. But watching film from this last game, guys cleaned up their assignments. They were better prepared going into Week Two, and that’s what helped us make a lot of plays.

Q: What adjustments were made from Week One to Week Two?
A: The adjustments started in practice. Those guys were really mentally locked in and they were able to fly around opposed to just going out there and trying to play without knowing. Those guys were knowing route coverages and concepts. It started with our middle linebacker (Josh Banderas). He started by getting us in the right position and communicating.

Q: What were some of your thoughts after that Wyoming game? Did you think it would be a case of “here we go again?”
A: Not really. I was disappointed in the fact we had so many mental errors, things we can correct and did correct. Guys knew we had a lot of mental busts, leaving guys open. I thought that came with playing the season opener. Guys are anxious and at the same time nervous. It came with the atmosphere.

Q: Are you tired of answering questions about the defense?
A: Nah. I’ll answer as many as I can. Occasionally, I’ll get stopped on campus and asked, “are we gonna be ready to play this week.” It’s a part of it. It’s a part of the game.

Q: Have you seen a change in Bo Pelini’s personality? Is this a calmer, gentler Bo Pelini?
A: I think so. Sometimes, he still gets fired up. But that’s the competitive side of him. He just wants the best for his players. He’s a competitor and coach. It comes out some times.

Q: Any young guys on the front seven who have stood out to you?
A: Yes, the middle linebacker, the true freshman, Josh Banderas. I think he played a good game last week getting guys in the right place, the right position, communicating across the field, getting everyone the call. That was the thing we struggled with in Week One, not getting the call, not getting lined up. We made a big jump in that aspect last week.

Q: If you have the pick of any Nebraska defensive player to take in a fantasy draft: Who would you take?
A: Probably Stanley Jean-Baptiste, a corner.

Q: Your second pick?
A: Randy Gregory.

About Tom Dienhart

BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men’s basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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3 Comments

Have never seen more great young talent, especially on defense on a Nebraska team and I’ve been following them since Devaney got here in 1962. Reminds me a little of the 1969 team that had sophomores Jeff Kinney, Jerry Tagge, and Van Brownson among others, with Johnny Rodgers on the way the next year. The front seven alone, with first year guys Gregory, Moss, Valentine, McMullen, Curry, Collins, Gerry, Banderas, and Rose playing extensively and showing flashes of tremendous speed and talent already, should be a handful by mid season. We started the season expecting the offense to have to carry the team, but this defense can be very good, very soon. Tough test against a very good UCLA team up this week and it is a huge early test for such a young defense, but these guys are like night and day compared to the last couple of defensive teams talent wise. There are going to be mistakes, probably more than a few, but this defense is absolutely loaded with young talent.

Alex on 9/10/2013 @ 9:59pm EDT Said:

bob. 602 yards let up to WYOMING. talented defenses don’t let that happen. the 2009 blackshirts wouldn’t let ANYONE get 600+ yards, especially not a bottom feeder like wyoming. this defense is just as poor and inconsistant is the defenses have been since 09

HuskerFaithful on 9/13/2013 @ 3:11am EDT Said:

First games, especially for a team playing so many young guys can be difficult. And Wyoming has a seasoned offense with skill players that have talent. Just because they seem to be a bottom of the barrel team, doesnt mean they lack the ability to show up and pull off a big win. This defense has more talent per player than any of the defenses since 09. So to discredit them shows that some people have become jaded, and are still caught up in the old days. This is not the 90’s anymore. Before bashing them, give them a chance. Because eating harsh words is painful on the throat. They will be a force in the years to come. Sit back and enjoy. GBR!